The 2025-26 season was a struggle for the Rockford IceHogs. Finishing the season 28-39-5, the IceHogs finished with their lowest point total since becoming the Chicago Blackhawk’s AHL affiliate in 2007.
Although last season was disappointing, Rockford remained quiet during the offseason. Most of the new faces come from Chicago’s extensive prospect pool. These prospects swarmed the forward depth chart. Additions outside of the organization were used to fill roles left by departing skaters. The organizational philosophy regarding the IceHogs’ roster construction remains the same. Fill out the roster with prospects nearly ready for the NHL, and surround them with reliable veteran skaters who can be leaned on.
What’s new?
Sacha Boisvert will start the regular season with Rockford. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)
The most significant change to the IceHogs this offseason came behind the bench. Despite retaining most of the coaching staff, assistant coach Rob Klinkhammer was let go following the 2025-26 season. Klinkhammer was an assistant for Rockford since 2022. His role has not been replaced, leaving Rockford with one assistant coach, Josh MacNevin.
For skaters, additions outside of the organization have been few. Most significantly, Rockford signed veteran defenseman Connor Mackey. Last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Mackey recorded 18 points in 62 games. Mackey should fill in for the departing Dmitry Kuzmin, who left for the KHL in the offseason.
Within the organization, Rockford added multiple forward prospects looking to carve out a role at the professional level. The three prospect additions are Sacha Boisvert, A.J. Spellacy and Marek Vanacker.
Boisvert arrives to Rockford following a season split between Boston University and the Chicago Blackhawks. The former 18th overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft had an eye-opening offseason, bulking in size in preparation for his first full professional season. Boisvert split training camp between Chicago and Rockford, taking the 1C role in Rockford’s preseason game against the Milwaukee Admirals on Monday. Boisvert looks to make an impact with his size and skill this season.
If Boisvert’s size is impressive, Spellacy’s could be game-changing. Spellacy spent the previous two seasons with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. He caught many by surprise as a standout during the 2025 preseason, and has continued to play a literally large role on the ice. Although he did not play for Rockford during the preseason, the former third-round pick looks to produce for the Hogs.
Finally, Vanacker looks to bring his scoring touch to his professional debut. Vanacker, the former 27th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, exploded last season with 47 goals with the Brandford Bulldogs of the OHL. Vanacker looks to be the scoring winger Rockford desperately missed last season.
The forwards
Paul Ludwinski looks to put his injury behind his this season. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)
Along with the new prospects, Rockford looks to bring back important pieces from last season’s forward group. The most important being team captain and point leader, Brett Seney. With the IceHogs, Seney has recorded 207 points since joining the team in 2022.
Along with Seney, Rockford brought back two forwards who passed through waivers earlier this week. Landon Slaggert and Dominic Toninato look to add experience and skill to a forward group looking for it.
Joining the veterans are multiple young skaters looking to bounce back from injury plagued seasons. Paul Ludwinski, Gavin Hayes and Samuel Savoie appear poised to do so. Ludwinski played only three games last season before a left knee injury ended his season last October. Hayes looked to be breaking out late last season before an MCL injury cut his momentum short in March. Savoie missed a few weeks in February with a lower-body injury. If all three of these forwards can maintain health, the forward depth looks dangerous.
These forwards, along with others looking to improve in their first full AHL seasons, like Jiri Felcman and Chase Dafoe, creates a chance for head coach Jared Nightingale to roll out four productive forward lines. The depth chart may shape out as such:
Savoie-Seney-Hayes
Slaggert-Boisvert-Toninato
Spellacy-Felcman-Vanacker
Mylymok/Misiak-Ludwinski-Lombardi/Boucher
The defensemen
Cavan Fitzgerald looks to be the veteran cornerstone of the defense. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)
Outside of Mackey, the defensive group looks mostly the same. Prospect Ashton Cumby is the new kid on the block for the defense. The 2025 sixth-round pick looks to make noise during his first professional season.
With few changes, the defensive core may look like this:
Harding-Fitzgerald
Mackey-Furlong
Cumby-Pouliot
The goaltenders
Drew Commesso starts the season in Rockford, but how long will he stay? (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)
The goalie crew looks like it did to finish last season. Drew Commesso looks to be the starting goaltender going into the season. However, the question around Commesso appears to be when, not if, he gets a full-time gig in the NHL.
When that happens, returning goalie Stanislav Berezhnoy would see his role turn from primary backup, to primary starter. Berezhnoy missed some time last season due to a suspension, but appeared in 16 contests, recording five wins and a .886 save percentage.
In the wings is rookie goaltender Adam Gajan. A 2023 second-round pick, Gajan played one game for Rockford last season. In that game Gajan saved 36 of 39 shots in a loss against the Chicago Wolves. Gajan looks to build off his impressive debut.
Season outlook
Rockford IceHogs skaters acknowledge the crowd following their preseason game on Monday. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)
“I’m extremely excited for this year’s group in Rockford,” said Rockford color commentator Dana Grey. “Of course, rosters can change quickly in the AHL, but the IceHogs have a great balance of exciting prospects, veteran depth and core pieces at every position.”
Have the IceHogs improved from last season? On paper, they are a more balanced roster. The 2025-26 season became defined by a lack of depth following the call-ups of Oliver Moore and Nick Lardis. This season, the forward depth looks deeper, the defense group looks reliable and the goalie room looks young and exciting.
The success of the 2026-27 IceHogs may hinge on if the new faces can make an impact, and if they stay in Rockford for the entire season. That is the constant struggle of AHL teams. Previous IceHogs skaters with strong starts to their seasons find themselves called up, leaving Rockford to rearrange the lineup on the fly. However, Rockford fully embraces seeing their young skaters rise up the ranks, an attitude reflected by Grey.
“It’s always fun to see who takes the next step in their careers and takes advantage of their opportunities.”
The opportunities begin tonight, as the IceHogs host the Admirals in the BMO Center at 7 p.m. CDT.